If you\u2019ve never been to the Western North Carolina Orchid Society\u2019s (WNCOS) Asheville Orchid Festival before, then mark your calendar now for Friday through Sunday, April 15\u201317. This is an event that you won\u2019t want to miss. You may be wondering: What makes this year\u2019s festival so special?<\/i><\/p>\n
The American Orchid Society (AOS) chose Asheville as the location for their national spring member meeting, and decided it would be held in conjunction with the festival. Expressing his excitement, Graham Ramsey, of WNCOS, compared this decision to being \u201ctapped for the Olympics in the orchid world.\u201d This collaboration puts the show on an international stage. Nearly 10,000 visitors are expected to attend.<\/p>\n
Speakers and vendors will travel here from across the country and from around the world, including New Zealand, Taiwan, and Peru. The AOS convention will take place at The Hilton in Biltmore Park where many special events and educational programs will be available to the public. As in years past, the festival will take place at The North Carolina Arboretum where thousands of orchids will be on display and for sale. \u201cThere are not too many places where one can purchase orchids from 13 different vendors from all over the world,\u201d says Graham. \u201cThere will be plants available for the beginners all the way to the collectors who want to buy cutting edge orchid hybrids not yet available in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll find educational programs running all weekend at the Arboretum\u2014structured more for the general public, such as repotting demonstrations and guided tours through the orchid displays. Several rounds of judging will take place.<\/p>\n
If you want to learn more about orchids, you don\u2019t have to wait until next year\u2019s festival. Open to all orchid lovers, WNCOS meetings take place on the second Sunday of each month at the Asheville Convention and Visitor\u2019s Bureau.<\/p>\n